Button-die.



M. MENKIN.

- nunon me.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.31. |915. A

Patented Dec. 25,1911

2 SHEETS-SHEET i.

l @nv/ M.MENKIN.

BUTTON DIE.

APPLICATION mso Aus.s1.1915.

Patented Dec. 25,1917.;

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ff .F ff g TTED STATES PATEN T OFFICE.

MAX MENKIN, F NEW' YORK, N. Y.

BUTTON-DIE.

To all Iwhom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MAX MENKIN, a subject of the Czar of Russia, and resident of the borough of Manhattan, city and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Button-Dies, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in and relating to button-dies for making clothcovered buttons of the well known type provided wit-h a cloth-covered rimmed back in which the body of the button comprises a hemispherical, conical or other suitably shaped shell of sheet metal, over which the cloth is stretched, and a tuft, loop or other fastening means secured therein by means of a metal disk, and over which a cloth-covered rimmed back is placed, producing a very attractive button. Such buttons having rimmed backs have been produced heretofore, but only in limited numbers as compared with the plain buttons, for the reason that in manufacturing the same, it was necessary that two separate dies be employed, first a die for forming the button itself, and secondly, a die for placing the rim thereon. In the construction of these dies, it has been necessary to have for each die a portion conforming to the shape of the button; in the rst die, for the purpose of forming the button, and in the second die, for the purpose of holding' the button while the rim is placed thereon. A limited number and only plain buttons were rimbacked on account. of the investment involved by the button manufacturer for the dies.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a button-forming device wherein an unlimited number and fancy buttons may be rimbacked with only the use of a single member having the configuration of the button, thereby bringing the amount of investment for producing these buttons down to an eX- tremely low figure, and therefore, used to greater extent. Y

With this and other objects in view, my invention consists of the novel details, arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a sectional view of the button-forming portion of my improved device;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the rim-forming portion thereof;

Specicaton of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 31, 1915.

Patented Dec. 25, 1917.

Serial No. 48,226.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the recessed button-forming die;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the button formed by the same;

Fig. 5 is a Sectional view of the base of the rim-forming portion and button-receiving portion thereon;

Fig. 6 is a detail view showing the cloth metal-rimmed disk and button used for forming the rimmed button;

Fig. 7 is a view of the completed button;

Fig. 8 is a view of a cloth-cutter for cutting the cloth for forming a button;

Fig. 9 is a view of a cloth-cutter for cutting the cloth for forming a rim;

Fig. l0 is a sectional view ofmy invention as applied to a button former of the latch type of die;

Fig. 11 is a sectional view of the rim-forming portion thereof;

Fig. 12 is al sectional view of my invention as applied to a button-former of the swivel type of die; and

Fig. 13 is a sectional view of the rimforming portion thereof.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several vie-ws.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Fig. 1 thereof, the button-forining portion of my invention comprises a base 1 having a central plug 2 adapted to be secured into a table or other suitable support, a stepped portion 3 and a tuft-holder 4c having a recess 5 therein supporting the tuft. A clamping block 6 is slidably mounted on the said tuft-holder, and is secured thereto by a screw 7 which enters the path of the tuft-holder at a flattened portion 8 thereof. This screw does not bear against the flattened portion 8, but permits free vertical movement for a limited distance, and prevents rotation of the tuft-holder. Said screw prevents the Luft-holder from separating from the clamping block by engaging the upper overhanging portion 9 at the top of the flattened portion 8 when the tuft-holder is in lower position. A helical compression spring 10 is interposed between a shoulder 11 of the clamping block and the base 1. The stepped portion 3 limits the downward movement of the Vclamping block, and also retains the spring in position. The clamping block is provided with a peripheral recessed pgntionV 12, and

interiorly with a beveled portion 13. The upper member of the button former comprises a shell carrier 14C provided with a flange 15, which engages the recessed portion of the clamping block. A follower 16 is provided therein, the movement of which is limited by a screw 17 slidable in a slot 18, provided in the shell carrier. The lower end of the said follower is recessed at 19 to conform to t-he configuration of the button, and the upper portion is provided with a flange 20 and a central threaded recess 21.

he die thus formed is operated in the following` manner A circular piece of cloth is first cut by the cloth-cutter 22, shown in Fig. S, and is placed on the shell carrier within the flange 15, and a shell is placed upon the cloth, and by pressure on the shell, both the shell and the cloth are forced into theopening on the "heil carrier, and into the recessed portion 19 of the follower'. The outer edge portions of the cloth, which project beyond the shell, are tucked in by the operator by means of any suitable instrument. A tuft is then placed upon the tuft-holder 4, the upper member is turned over and placed upon the lower member of the die, and the follower is caused to be operated by means of any suitable press mechanism, thereby forcing the tuft into the cloth-covered shell, and completing the button. lVhen this operation is completed, the follower is disengaged from the button former by removing the screw 17, and the same is screwed onto an upstanding threaded portion 25 of a base 26, and in this manner, the saine is rsed as a lower portion of a rim former. ft is not necessary to remove the follower each time a button is made, but a number of buttons are first made before placing t-he rimmed backs thereon. A lower slidable member is mounted on the follower, which, for convenience of description, will be referred to in this portion of the device as the button rest, by means of a slot 27 therein, into which the screw 17 of the button rest is adapted to slide. Said slidable member is controlled by a helical compression spring 2S, which is disposed between a shoulder 29 of the said slidable member and the base 26. It will be seen that the flange 20 of the button rest will now serve to limit the downward movement of the lower sliding meinber and also to hold the said spring 28 in position. The upper edge of the bore of the sliding member is beveled as at 30, and the same is provided with a peripheral recessed portion 31. The upper portion of the rim former comprises a rim carrier 32 having a peripheral flange L0 which fits into the recessed portion 31 of the lower slidable member, and a follower 33 is provided, into which a rim is adapted to be placed. The lower portion ofthe follower is recessed to conform to the tuft and configuration of the base of the button. A screw 34; is provided in the rim carrier, which enters the path of the follower at a flattened portion 35 thereof, the vertical movement of the said follower being limited by Ln overhanging portion 36, which engages the screw and a flange 37 provided in the upper edge of the follower, which engages the rim carrier. In operation, the button comprising a cover 41 a shell lla and a tuft 11b formed by the button former is placed in the lower portion of the rim former thus formed, and a circular piece of cloth 4t2 having a central opening therein for the tuft of the button to project through is cnt by the cloth-cutter 36, shown in Fig. 9, and the same is placed on theupper portion of the former within the flange 31 thereof. A metal rim 113 also provided with a central opening for the tnft of the button is then placed over the cloth and pushed into the rim carrier in the saine manner as above described for forming a button, the projecting edges of the cloth being tucked into the rim by the operator with any suitable instrument, as is well known. The die is then compressed by means of the press, and the rim is forced onto the button, thereby forming the rimmed button, as shown in Fig. 7.

1n Figs. 10 and 11 there is shown a modlfied form of my invention as applied tothe latch or three-part type of button-die. The button forming portion shown in Fig. 10 comprises a. lower member having a baseblock 56, which is secured by any suitable clamping means to the bed of the press. A post 51 rises from the base-block 50, on which is slidably mounted a cup-shaped rest 52, which is sustained by a spring 53 between the same and the base-block 50, and which is guided in vertical movement by a screw 511 entering aI groove of the post. The upper end of the said post 51 is shaped as at 56 to conform to the interior configuration of the button.

A shell carrier 57 is mounted above the said lower member, having therein a follower 58, which is retained by a screw 59 entering a flat 60 of the follower. The lower end of the said follower is recessed as at 61 to conform to the outer conguration, and the upper end is provided with a bore 62 into which a latch head is adapted to be secured. The latch head comprises a` block 63 having at its top a screw 64 for attachment to the sliding head of a press. as is well known, and at its bottom is provided a stub shaft 65, to which the follower is secured, as above mentioned, by mea-ns of a screw 66. A latch 67 is pivoted at 68 to the block 63, and depends therefrom into engagement with the flange 69 of the shell carrier as shown. The said shell carrier provided with a peripheral recess 70 which is adapted to engage a flange 71 on the rest 52 of the lower member.

The two portions thus formed are operated to place a piece of cloth over the shell of the button preparatory to placing the tuft. therein, in the following manner The intermediate member hereinafter described is removed from the apparat-us dnring this operation. A shell is fitted on the upper end 5G of the post 51 and a circular piece of Cloth is placed within the flange 71 of the rest, whereupon pressure is applied, which causes the upper member of the die to descend, the latch 67 during this movement remaining in engagement with the iiange G9 of the shell carrier and holding the follower 5S rigid with respect to the same. Continued downward movement causes the forcing of the shell and the cloth into the shell carrier by the post 51, the cloth being by this operation. drawn tightly over the shell. Upon permitting the upper member of the die to rise, the shell and cloth are retained in the shell 57 adjacent the lower end of the follower,

The intermediate member above referred to, or tuft-holder 72, having its rim beveled t 73 to form a tripping portion for the latch 67 and provided with a slidable member 74 having its upper end recessed to receive a tuft is now placed on the rest of the lower member. The said slidable member is limited in movement in the intermediate member by means of a flange 75 of the slidable member engaging a recess 76 of the slidable member. ln this position, a tuft is placed in the recess of the slidable member 74, and pressure. is applied to the sliding head of the press. The shell carrier descends, and a beveled face 77 at the lower end of the latch 67 rides upon the correspondingly beveled tripping portion 73 of the intermediate member, whereby the latch is swung outwardly, out of engagement with the flange 69 of the shell carrier.

F or permitting the latch to engage continuously the beveled portion 73 and be controlled thereby, an inclined recess 78 is provided in which the flange 69 moves in its upward travelwithout engaging the latch. A peripheral flange 79 on the intermediate member ent-ers a corresponding annular recess SO in the shell carrier, and thereby holds the parts centered during descent of the upper member. The intermediate member being pressed downwardly, the Jruft-carrier is brought into Contact with the upper end of the post 51, whereby its further descent is arrested. The other parts descend against the force of the spring 53, and thereby the shell and tuft are brought together at the clamping face S1 of the intermediate member. The tuft turns the depending portion of the cloth inwardly into the shell, and by further pressure, the shell is clamped to the tuft. The upper member is then permitted to rise, the lower and intermediate members are lifted by the spring 53 to original position, and the button is found supported on the intermediate member. rllhe intermediate member may then be removed from the restl and the described operation repeated for making another button;

The button or buttons thus formed are now ready for the rimmed back to be placed thereon. The relative parts and operations for the rim former are practically the same as the button former above described, the follower in the shell carrier, however, being integral with the latch head and having` its lower end shaped as at 82 to accommodate a rimmed back, the upper end of the post of the lower member being also correspondingly shaped as at 83 to hold the rimmed back. The rest for the cloth in the lower member is made slightly wider, as at 84, as the cloth for covering the rim must be larger 4han that for the button. y

The intermediate member is practically the same as the intermediate member of the button former, with the exception of the slidable portion, which is replaced by the follower 58 of the button former, which is detached from the same, and secured in the intermediate member of the rim former by means of the screw 59 therein.

ln Figs. 12 and 13,1 have shown a further embodiment of my invention as applied to the swivel type of die, Fig. 12 representing the button-forming portion, and Fig. 13 the rim forming portion. The button forming portion comprises an upper portion 90 mounted upon a rotatable member 99, and provided with a follower 91, the lower end 99. of which has the configuration of the button, and two members 93 and 94 corresponding respectively to the lower member and the intermediate tuft holder of the three-part dies. The members 93 and 94 are mounted on a platform 95, and are adapted to be successively acted upon by the upper member 90, lirst to place the cloth over the shell, and second to insert the tuft` into the same. The rim forming portion comprises the three members 96, 97 and 98, corresponding respectively in operation and arrangement to the parts 90, 93 and 94 of the button forming portion, the cloth being first placed over the rimmed back, and the button formed by the button forming portion then being inserted therein. manner as with the latch type of die, the follower 91 of the upper member of the button forming portion is removed and inserted in inverted position in the member 98 of the rim forming portion to form a rest or seat for the button while the rimmed back is being placed therein, thus utilizing the same for the two operations.

It is obvious that by this construction,

In the same great saving is effected in the manufacture of these dies for rimmed backed buttons, and as will be seen, the use of these buttons, which has heretofore been prohibited in a great measure by the Cost of the same, will be popularized.

I have illustrated preferred and satisfactory forms of my invention, but it is obvious that changes may be made therein within the spirit and scope thereof, as defined in the appended claims.

I claim l. In a button die set for forming covered rimmed buttons, a tuft and shell assembling portion, Comprising a shell holder, supporting means for the tuft, means surrounding the tuft supporting means, and adapted to be engaged by said shell holder, a spring disposed between said tuft supporting means, and said surrounding means, and a follower in said shell holder having at one end the configuration of the shell, and having at its exposed end a threaded opening therein, said end having the configuration of the shell adapted to engage the shell and force the same into engagement with said tuft, said follower being removable from said shell supporting means.

2. In a button die set for forming covered rimmed buttons, a rim back and tufted shell assembling portions, comprising a rim back holder, supporting means for the tufted button, havingat one end the configuration of the shell, and having at its other end a threaded opening therein, a base provided with a threaded post adapted to engage said threaded opening of said supporting member, said supporting member being removable from said base, means surrounding the tufted shell supporting means, and adapted to be engaged by said baelr rim holder, a spring disposed between said base and said surrounding means, and a follower in said rim back holder adapted to engage the rim back and force the same into engagement with said tufted shell to form a button.

3. In a button die set for. forming rimbaeked buttons, a rim-back and tufted shell assembling portion comprising a support, a member having the configuration of the button shell removably mounted upon said support, said member adapted to form a support for the tufted shell, and adapted when detached to form in inverted position, a follower for the shell.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have signed my name in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

MAX MENKIN.

Witnesses:

JOHN SCHWARZ, Jos. BIsBANO.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

